MATTHEWS, N.C. – Windstream (NYSE: WIN), a high-speed Internet, phone and digital TV provider, announced it has partnered with one of NASCAR’s great pioneers and legendary driver/owner Junior Johnson to kick off the upcoming Windstream Pole Night qualifying race and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LMS) this May.

Johnson, a 10-time race and two-time pole winner at LMS (twice as a driver, eight as an owner), will make three Charlotte-area appearances with Windstream’s Green Truck Tour that will culminate with his participation in Windstream Pole Night scheduled for Thursday, May 21.

“Windstream is excited to partner with NASCAR legend Junior Johnson. His rich history in NASCAR and tremendous career success at Lowe’s Motor Speedway made him a natural fit to help us celebrate Windstream Pole Night and the 50th anniversary of the Coca-Cola 600 race,” said Ron Proleika, vice president of marketing communications for Windstream. “We hope race fans come out and meet Junior on the Windstream Green Truck Tour and take advantage of our free Pole Night ticket giveaway, so they get the opportunity to experience this historic week with one of the sport’s true icons.”

The 1960 Daytona 500 champion will accompany the Windstream Green Truck Tour to several community stops on Tuesday, May 19, which includes greeting morning commuters at the Pure Mart gas station / McDonald’s in Indian Trail (305/303 Unionville Indian Trail Rd., 6-8 a.m.), followed by visiting race fans outside Concord Mills Mall (4-6 p.m.), where the legend will also participate in a special autograph session.

Consumers and race fans are encouraged to stop by either of these free events to meet Johnson and to pick up a free family four-pack of tickets for Windstream Pole Night. Limit one four-pack of tickets per person while supplies last.

The year’s 50th anniversary of the famous Memorial Day race will kick off with Johnson getting behind the wheel of Windstream’s signature Green Truck and driving the lead Pole Night parade lap, energizing the fans and race qualifying field.

“I look forward to interacting with all the Windstream employees, consumers and fans on the Green Truck Tour and at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to help generate even more excitement around Windstream Pole Night,” said Johnson, a Wilkesboro, N.C., resident who holds the honor of being named one of NASCAR’s ‘50 Greatest Drivers.’ “I know what it’s like to capture the pole, and for one driver it’s going to give him momentum and a leg up on the rest of the field heading into one of NASCAR’s most storied races.

“Windstream offers great products and services for its customers, and it is wonderful how the company gives back to the community through its Green Truck Tour. I am thrilled they asked me to be a part of Windstream’s race-week activities in a small way.”

The Green Truck Tour is designed to give back to the local communities that Windstream serves and educate the public about landline safety. The tour, which promotes Windstream’s high-speed Internet, reliable phone and digital TV products and services, runs through November with stops in 14 states. Windstream also is donating $200,000 to eight schools in the company’s service area through its Classroom Connections program. For additional information about the Green Truck Tour and its scheduled stops, visit www.greentrucktour.com.

About WindstreamWindstream Corporation is an S&P 500 company that provides digital phone, high-speed Internet and high-definition video and entertainment services to residential and business customers in 16 states. The company has approximately 3 million access lines and about $3.2 billion in annual revenues. Windstream is ranked 4th in the 2009 BusinessWeek 50 ranking of the best performing U.S. companies. For more information about Windstream, visit www.windstream.com.